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Landmarkism Under Fire
A Study of Landmark Baptist
by Elder J.C. Settlemoir Chapter 11 - Church Covenants and Church Constitution Baptist church covenants are important in the discussion of church constitution because in most churches the covenant is the first and often the only written statement by the church and it is usually prepared before the church constitutes. Many of these covenants express what the church considered as the essential of their constitution. We will survey some of these. B.H. Carroll gives a good definition of a church covenant. He says: What is the ecclesiastical meaning of the word [covenant] as used by Baptists? It means that agreement between saved individuals by which they associate themselves into a local church, setting forth their mutual engagements as members of one body. It is usually appended to their Articles of Faith because a common belief is a necessary condition of fellowship and co-operation.[371] Baptists, Carroll, says “associate themselves into a local church”. Note they are not put in a church state by mother church, by presbytery, by letters granted or by powers bestowed by any other entity but rather the constitution, from the human side, is the action of the assembly–and of nothing else. John Spilsbury believed the covenant was the true form of a church and not baptism, as some Baptists believed.[372] He gave as reasons five propositions. I quote three through five as given by Dewesse: Third, a covenant is the relationship that gives being to a church and maintains that being. Fourth, a covenant is that which makes Christians members of a church and makes a church itself. Fifth, since the church is the greatest ordinance, it cannot be constituted by any lesser ordinance, but only by God’s covenant.....Spilsbury further affirmed that ‘baptism is one branch of the covenant, ‘that baptism should succeed the use of a covenant’, and that ‘a people are a church by covenant, unto which ordinances are annexed, to confirm and establish the same.’ [373] Spilsbury here teaches that “Covenant gives being to a church,” and “a covenant....makes a church;” that: “A people are a church by covenant.” These express statements say much about how Baptists, in the time of Spilsbury, constituted churches. They met together in accordance with the Scripture and formed their churches by the authority of Christ. This covenant when made makes a church. This is the exact point for which we contend. The Heart of Constitution Is Covenant Wardin says : “The local church was a covenanted body. The heart of its constitution was the covenant which the members pledged to follow.”[374] Church covenants express what Baptists do in constitution and what they promise to do as members. A covenant is essential to the constitution of a church although it may not be a written covenant. The covenant is essential because disciples who gather together in the name of Christ[375] cannot do so without covenanting together to submit to Christ’s word and to keep His commandments. “When this covenant has been entered into the church is fully organized. The covenant is organization.”[376] Thus there is no church constitution without covenant, nor is there any other essential of a scriptural constitution for those in gospel order. John Gill makes this plain when he says: “A particular church may be considered as to the form of it; which lies in mutual consent and agreement, and in their covenant and confederation with each other.”[377] Here we see the essence of a church is in its covenanting together. John Clarke expressed this in his defense before the ministers and
magistrates of ...and having so received Him, should walk in Him, observing all things whatsoever He had commanded; the first thing whereof, as touching order, was to be added or joined one to another in the fellowship of the gospel, by a mutual professed subjection to the sceptre of Christ, and being a company thus called out of the world, from worldly vanities and worldly worships, after Christ Jesus the Lord... [378] The actual covenant Clarke and his church adopted May 4, 1727 says in part: And in the presence of the great God, the elect angels, and one another, having a sense of our unworthiness considered of ourselves, and looking wholly and alone to the Lord Jesus Christ for worthiness and acceptance, we do no solemnly give up ourselves to the Lord in a church state, according to the prime constitution of the gospel church; that He may be our God, and we His people, through the everlasting covenant of His free grace.[379] Here we have gospel order described and it consists of subjection to the scepter of Christ as a company of saints called out of the world and which are joined one to another. This is what a church does when it is constituted scripturally. The subjection to the scepter of Christ is what saints submit to when they covenant together in gospel order and this is constitution. And that constitution has nothing to do with any other church. Church Covenant by J.R. Graves Thanking God for the light we have received, for the revelation of Jesus which we now enjoy; and hoping that God, for Christ’s sake, has pardoned our sins; and having been baptized on a profession of our faith in Christ Jesus into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; we do, this day, before God and the world, with deep joy and great solemnity, enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.[380] The most redundant factor in these Baptist covenants is that of “covenanting together.” They do not express any other authority than that received of Christ even though they often had other churches involved in their constitution. This was in accordance with Baptist usage. Pendleton’s Covenant Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.[381] There is not in this Covenant (nor anywhere in this manual) any reference to EMDA. It is quite clear that this covenant means to represent constitution as being dependant upon the blessing of God upon what these saints do–their coming together and covenanting together as a church. This is self constitution without any shadow of a mother church. The only authority involved is that from the great Head of the church, “There am I in the midst of them.” There is no place here for some essential authority outside that of Christ necessary for constitution. He promises to be in the midst of every church so organized. Any church so constituted as described by Pendleton is a gospel church. Covenanting was considered by Baptists to be the essential element of constitution–not EMDA or anything like it. The London Association of thirteen Baptist churches resolved in 1704: That in case the minor part of any church break off their communion from that church, the church state is to be accounted to remain with the major part. And in case the major part of any church be fundamentally corrupted with heresy and immorality, the minor part may and ought to separate from such a degenerate society; and either join themselves to some regular church or churches, or else, if they are a competent number, constitute a church state by a solemn covenant among themselves.[382] Again it is clear that these saints thought any competent number of baptized saints could constitute themselves into a church. And this is not an occasional note by an eccentric author, but the testimony of many renown Baptist churches and writers who published this unchallenged document. And this testimony of Baptists is constant throughout their history. Formation of a Church by W.B. Johnson W.B. Johnson was one of the leading Baptists of South Carolina[383]. His treatment of the Church in The Gospel Developed is Scriptural, baptistic, concise. In these scriptures, we have as satisfactory account of the
formation of the mother church at Johnson says the Bible pattern is self constitution! How different the pattern of EMDA! Note carefully that he says “But no official act of the apostles beyond teaching, we learn, gave validity to its existence.” If there was no official act from the apostles, then certainly there was no such thing from other sources including churches. The essential matter in Johnson’s presentation is that a sufficient number of believers baptized, could, and should, unite together on the principle of one accord and mutual consent in the truth, which is the essence of a covenant. William Hiscox and This was a group which pulled out of John Clarke’s church because of their belief in worshiping on the seventh day of the week. They express their covenant in these words: After serious consideration and seeking God’s face among ourselves for the Lord to direct us in a right way for us and our children, so as might be for God’s glory and our souls’ good, we, viz., William Hiscox, Samuel Hubbard, Steven Mumford, Roger Baxter, Tracy Hubbard, Rachel Langworthy,....Mumford, entered into covenant with the Lord and with one another, and gave up ourselves to God and one to another, to walk together in all God’s holy commandments and holy ordinances according to what the Lord had discovered to us or should discover to be his mind for us to be obedient unto; with sense upon our hearts of great need to be watchful over one another, did promise so to do, and in edifying and building up one another in our most holy faith; this 7th day of December, 1671.[385] Where did this church get its authority? What led them to the position that they could constitute themselves into a church if EMDA was then in vogue? Of course the answer is they had never heard of EMDA but it was normal Baptist procedure for churches to self constitute! Note Clarke’s church, from which this group broke off, did not grant any authority to this group, nor did they censor them because they did not obtain any! The absence of authority on one hand and the silence of Clarke’s church and the Baptist historians who record this account gives EMDA advocates a considerable amount of indigestion.[386] English Baptist Covenant We who through the mercy of God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have obtained grace to give ourselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God to have communion one with another as saints in our gospel fellowship. Do, before God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Angels, agree and promise, all of us (the Lord assisting) to walke together in this our gospel communion and fellowship, as a church of Jesus Christ in love to the Lord, and one to another, and endeavour to yield sincere and hearty obedience to the laws, ordinances and appointments of our Lord and Lawgiver in his church. And also do agree and promise (the Lord assisting) to follow after the things which make for peace, and things whereby the one may edify another; that so loving and walking together in peace, the God of Love and Peace may be with us. Amen. To which we had the universal consent and Amen of all.[387] There is this prevailing theme in these covenants which always comes to the fore–covenanting together is church constitution and the authority for this action is invested in those who are in gospel order by the Lord Himself. We whose names are underwritten do now declare that we embrace the Word of God as our only guide in matters of religion, and acknowledge no other authority whatever as binding upon the conscience. Having, we hope, found mercy at the hands of God, in delivering us from the power of darkness, and translating us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, we think and feel ourselves bound to walk in obedience to His divine commands. On looking into the sacred Scripture, we find it was common in the first ages of Christianity for such as professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, voluntarily to unite together in Christian societies called churches. Their ends in so doing were to honor God and promote their own spiritual edification. Having searched the written Word, in order that we may know how to act, as well as what to believe, and sought unto God by prayer for divine direction, we heartily approve of, and mean to follow their example. With a view to this, we now solemnly, in presence of the all-seeing and heart-searching God, do mutually covenant and agree, in manner and form following.[388] These saints of God thought from their search of Scripture that those who had experienced repentance and faith and were in gospel order should , voluntarily unite together in Christian societies called churches. To accomplish this they did mutually covenant and agree, in manner and form following. Then follows a brief confession of their beliefs. Here is the simplicity of Baptist church constitution without the unproved EMDA armor! They acknowledged no other authority binding upon the conscience than the Word of God. The Anabaptist Covenant In an article in The Chronicle on Baptists and Anabaptists James D. Mosteller writes: The church is ‘gathered and led together by the Holy Spirit, which from henceforth ruleth, controlleth and ordereth every thing in her, leading all her members to be of one mind and of one intention, so that they want only to be like Christ....’[389] These Anabaptists got no authority except from Heaven! Keach’s Church Covenant And we do solemnly, in the presence of God and of each other, in the sense of our own unworthiness, give up ourselves to the Lord in a church state, according to the apostolic constitution, that He may be our God, and we may be His people.... Being fully satisfied in the way of church-communion, and the truth of grace in some good measure upon one another’s spirits, we do solemnly join ourselves together in a holy union and fellowship, humbly submitting to the discipline of the Gospel, and all holy duties required of a people in such a spiritual relation.[390] The essentials of church constitution according to Keach’s covenant is “give up ourselves to the Lord in a church state” and “do solemnly join ourselves together in a holy union and fellowship.” This manner of covenanting together to form a church is the same thing he teaches in his church manual.[391] Welsh Baptist Covenants As many American Baptist churches came from and were influenced by the Welsh Baptists the Welsh attitude toward covenanting and constitution is important. They covenanted together by a simple verbal agreement to form a church. Dewesse explains: Some Baptist churches in But the concept of EMDA is not to be found in This early church covenant describes the formation of a church which would be denominated a false church by the advocates of EMDA because they did not have a mother church! Soe that in the year of our ever blessed Redeemer, the Lord Jesus (1640) one thousand six hundred and forty, those five persons,[393] namely Goodman Atkins of Stapleton, Goodman Cole a Butcher of Lawford’s Gate, Richard Moone a Farrier in Wine Street, and Mr Bacon a young Minister, with Mrs. Hazzard, at Mrs Hazzard’s house, at the upper end of Broad Street in Bristol, they Mett together, and came to a holy Resolution to Separate from the Worship of the World and times they lived in, and that they would goe noe more to it, and with godly purpose of heart Joyned themselves together in the Lord; and only thus Covenanting....[394] How beautifully scriptural is this little church with but five members and they mention no mother church, no presbytery, no approval from any source but the Lord Jesus Himself. Note this would have been impossible according to EMDA advocates, who contend you must have a mother church, you must have an ordained minister, and anything and everything else they choose to add on. For as they do not have Scripture for any of these claims, they can continue to add tradition upon tradition–as much as they like! Was the first Baptist The 28 of the 3d Mo. 1665 in Charlestown [Boston], Massachusetts, the Church of Christ commonly (though falsely) called Anabaptists were gathered together and entered into fellowship & communion each with other; engaging to walk together in all the appointments of their Lord & Master the Lord Jesus Christ as far as he should be pleased to make known his mind & will unto them, by his word and spirit.[395] This is taken from the minutes of the church. Of course, if there had been any such idea as EMDA their minutes would have reflected it. This perpetual silence on this subject cannot be a coincidence. The Church Covenant Recorded by Morgan Edwards This covenant which is from an unnamed Baptist church was prepared in 1732 and published by Morgan Edwards in 1774. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we do voluntarily and jointly separate ourselves from the world; and voluntarily and jointly give ourselves to the Lord, who hath promised to receive such, and be to them a God; holding ourselves hence forth as his, and no longer our own. We do also voluntarily and mutually give ourselves one to another, and voluntarily and mutually receive one another in the Lord; meaning hereby to coalesce into one body, jointly to exist and jointly to act by the bands and rules of the gospel; each esteeming himself henceforth as a member of a spiritual body; accountable to it, subject to its control, and no other wise separable there from than by consent first had, or unreasonably refused. [396] In this covenant these saints “meaning hereby (their covenant) to coalesce into one body” and they give no evidence of gaining this authority from any other source than the great Head of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Could they have stated self constitution any plainer? Could they have omitted EMDA it if they had believed it essential for constitution? Covenant of the As the Professors of Christianity are so Divided their principles and practice that they cannot hold communion together and passing by the several classes of pedobaptists. There are Several classes of Antepedobaptists, with which we Cannot agree. Namely, the Seven Day Baptists, the no Sabbath Baptists, and those that dip three times in Baptism, with all of which we cannot agree; therefore think it Expedient to covenant or Agree together in matters of faith and Order, yet So as not to Reject those Christians as only Differ from us in Contra essential matters; But as a distinct Society do Embody ourselves and the following Rules References and articles to our Several Names are annex. Yet as we do not Look upon ourselves infallible we Still Look to be further taught by the Word and Spirit of God into those Mysteries Contained in the Holy Scriptures. The Solemn covenant of the These believers say we “do embody ourselves,” which is the way Baptists sometimes refer to their constitution. This was not an EMDA approved constitution nor was EMDA present but it was self constitution expressly so stated.[398] This church was formed in 1785. This covenant says in part: .....we do mutually consent and agree who to embody ourselves together as a religious society to worship God through faith in Jesus Christ .... And being constituted into a Church....[399] Samuel Jones Covenant Samuel Jones wrote his Treatise of Church Discipline and a Directory at the request of the Philadelphia Association in 1798. We, whose names are under written, being desirous to be constituted a church of Jesus Christ, in this place and having all due knowledge of one another in point of a work of grace on our hearts, religious principles, and moral characters, and being desirous of enjoying the privileges that appertain to the people of God in a church relation, do, in the name of the Lord Jesus, voluntarily and freely give ourselves up to the Lord, and to one another, according to his word, to be one body under one head, jointly to exist and act by the bands and rules of the gospel....[400] How could one express more clearly the act of self constitution?
How could one more clearly refute EMDA? Jones instructs baptized saints as to
how to constitute a church. He does not tell them to find a mother church and
unite with it! He does not tell them they must have authority from a previously
existing church! He does not tell them they must be able to trace a viable
church pedigree with attached EMDA all the way to Is there any church covenant which expresses the idea of EMDA? No church covenant in history that I have seen expresses EMDA. Let the advocates of EMDA find one if they can. It is quite clear that these churches mentioned in this chapter, from a wide variety of sources, did not speak nor practice EMDA. It seems impossible that anyone would maintain that so many covenants from so many ages of Baptist history could be found which not only do not mention EMDA but explicitly state self constitution and yet that these churches held to EMDA and opposed self constitution! But this is what EMDA advocates must claim or admit they are wrong! As they will not admit they are wrong and cannot find evidence for EMDA they are between the hammer and the anvil and the forging is frantic. Now we wish to consider what actually constitutes a church. [371] B.H. Carroll. Christ and His Church, p. 245.
[372]
Charles Dewesse.
[373] Op. cit. , p. 26.
[374]
Albert W. Wardin, Jr.
[375] Mt 18:20; I Cor 6:8.
[376]
Ben Bogard.
[377] John Gill. Body of Divinity, p. 623.
[378]
Graves-Adlam. The
[379] Op. cit. p. 192.
[380]
Charles W. Dewesse.
[381]
J.M. Pendleton.
[382] J.J. Goadby. Bye-Paths in Baptist History, p. 215. [383] Cf. Hortense Woodson. Giant In The Land: A Biography of William Bullein Johnson. Johnson was born in 1782 and died 1862. [384] W.B. Johnson. The Gospel Developed. 1846. Quoted in Dever’s Polity, p. 187. [385] Isaac Backus, Hist. Of Baptists in New England, vol I, p. 325. From the Ms. of John Comer, Backus Hist. Soc. Library.
[386]
Incidentally, if “Like begets like” with reference to churches, as EMDA
advocates intone with monotonous repetition, how is it that a Seventh Day
Baptist Church came out of a
[387] Joseph Ivimey. A History of the English Baptists, vol II, p. 195-6.
[388]
Dewesse.
[389] The Chronicle, Vol. XX, July 1957, p. 23. The quote is from Vedder’s Balthasar Hubmaier, (N.Y.: Dutton,) 1905, p. 21.
[390]
Dewesse.
[391] Cf. Chapter 9.
[392]
Charles Dewesse.
[393]These saints had not read that you must have six people to constitute a church, but reading the Scripture, they were convinced that Christ’s word of “two or three” were sufficient! Cf. Milburn Cockrell, SCO, p. 36.
[394]Charles
Dewesse.
[395] Op. cit., p. 133. [396] Op. cit. p. 137. [397] Op. cit., p. 146. [398] I have found numerous ways of referring to constitution but none of them include EMDA. Some of these are as follows: Set off, Founded, Arose, Gathered, Planted, Formed, Constituted, Embodied, and Convened. Most of these can be found in Benedict’s, General History of the Baptist Denomination.1813.
[399]
Charles Dewesse.
[400]
Charles W. Dewesse.
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